Pasadena woman is charged in break-ins at school lot

February 22, 1996

A Pasadena woman was arrested Monday after police said she told them she drove the getaway car for three men who broke into two cars parked in a Severna Park High School lot.

Principal Robert Ferguson told police that the school received a call about 12:30 p.m. reporting that someone was breaking into cars in the back lot. Mr. Ferguson and Kenneth Hook, the vice principal, went outside and saw two young men duck behind cars, police said.

The young men got into a gray Dodge Aries that was driven by a woman, police said. Mr. Ferguson stood in front of the car in an attempt to stop it, but the driver continued to accelerate and the car hit the principal's left hand as it sped by, police said.

Officers said they found broken windows on a 1989 Mazda 323 and a 1990 Honda Prelude and more than $1,400 in stereo equipment and compact discs missing.

Mr. Ferguson gave officers the fleeing car's tag number and police traced it to the suspect, who fit the description of the driver, police said.

Police said when they questioned the woman, she tearfully told them that she had picked up two acquaintances near Glen Burnie High School earlier that day and drove them to Severna Park High School to meet a third man while she sat in the car.

After a few minutes, the three got back into the car and told her to leave, police said. She sped off and let the men out on Benfield Road, police said. Officers said the woman told them she did not see Mr. Ferguson and was unaware that she had hit him.

Patricia Lynn Dehn, 18, of the 8300 block of Catherine Ave. was charged with felony theft, theft and traffic charges. She was released on $1,500 bond.